Venus and Jupiter Put on a Show at Dusk
June 18, 2015 | Each night during late June the two brightest planets are gliding closer together in the early evening sky. They're joined by a crescent Moon on June 19–20 and culminate with an ultra-close pairing on June 30th.

(Brief) Total Lunar Eclipse Before Dawn on April 4th
March 30, 2015 | An unusually brief total eclipse of the Moon will be visible before dawn this Saturday, April 4th, from western North America. The eclipse happens on Saturday evening for Australia and East Asia.

Comet Lovejoy Glows Brightest During Mid-January
January 7, 2015 | An icy visitor from the solar system's outer fringe is gliding into view in the evening sky. You might be able to glimpse it by eye alone, and it's obvious when seen in binoculars.

2014

Geminid Meteor Shower Returns December 13-14
December 9, 2014 | If it’s clear this weekend, late on the nights of December 13th and 14th, keep a lookout high overhead for the "shooting stars" of the Geminid meteor shower.

Total Lunar Eclipse Before Dawn October 8th
October 2, 2014 | For the second time this year, North Americans will have an opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse. But this one favors night owls and early-risers, because the full Moon passes through the dark inner part of Earth's shadow well after midnight on the morning of October 8th.

Venus & Jupiter Super-Close Before Dawn on August 18th
August 14, 2014 | Anyone willing to rise before dawn on Monday, August 18th, will be rewarded with the sight of the closest planet pairing of 2014 — and not just any planets, but the two brightest ones: Venus and Jupiter.

Perseid Meteors to Compete with Moonlight Late Tuesday Night
August 7, 2014 | The Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, peaks on the night of August 12–13 (late Tuesday, early Wednesday). But this year it will compete with bright moonlight for visibility.

See the Brightest Mars in Six Years
April 3, 2014 | This month we’re closer to Mars than Earth has come for almost 6½ years. The Red Planet appears brighter and bigger in the evening sky than it has since December 2007.

F+W Media Acquires Sky & Telescope
Jan. 23, 2014 | For only the second time in its 73-year history, ownership of Sky & Telescope has changed hands. On January 17th, F+W Media, Inc. acquired New Track Media, LLC, the parent company of Sky & Telescope magazine.

Comet ISON Brightening As Its Moment of Truth Nears
Nov. 20, 2013 | Comet ISON is brightening fast just days from its fateful hairpin turn through the broiling skirts of the Sun on November 28th. The comet is now visible as a greenish-white fuzzy "star" in binoculars, low in the east-southeast at the beginning of dawn.

Dramatic Pairing of Crescent Moon and Venus on September 8th
September 3, 2013 | Shortly after sunset on September 8th, a razor-thin crescent Moon hanging just above the western horizon will pair closely with the dazzling planet Venus, the "Evening Star." Two other celestial treats, the planet Saturn and the star Spica, will linger nearby.

Comet ISON Spotted Again, but Faintly
August 19, 2013 | Comet ISON has been hiding behind the Sun since June, but an amateur imager has just recovered it low in the dawn — and the comet hasn't been brightening as much as we hoped.

Naked-eye Nova in Delphinus
August 19, 2013 | A naked-eye nova has appeared in the constellation Delphinus, well-positioned in the evening sky and one of the brightest nova seen in recent years.

Watch Three Planets Dancing in the Sunset
May 20, 2013 | In late May 2013, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury swirl through the tightest naked-eye planet trio the world will see until 2026. The show continues into June.

2012

A “Blue Moon” Heralds the Harvest
Aug. 24, 2012 | On August 31st, a full Moon will rise for the second time this month (the first time was on August 1st). Many people call the second full Moon in a calendar month a "Blue Moon" — but it didn't start out that way.

Perseid Meteors in Their Prime
Aug. 8, 2012 | The most-watched meteor shower of the year happens this weekend. The Perseids will peak late on August 11 through the early hours of August 12.

Your Complete Go-To Guide for June's Transit of Venus
May 28, 2012 | On June 5th in North and Central America, and June 6th in Asia, Australia, and most of Europe, the planet Venus will cross in front of the Sun. This will be only the eighth such transit of Venus since the invention of the telescope, and the last one until December 10-11, 2117.

Eclipse of the Sun to Sweep North America on Sunday, May 20th
May 14, 2012 | Most of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will experience a partial eclipse of the Sun this weekend. And, if you happen to be in a swath of land running from Northern California to Texas, you'll also get a very special "ring" eclipse, during which which the Sun's rim forms completely encircles the black silhouette of the Moon.

Venus and Jupiter Dance at Dusk
March 7, 2012 | The two brightest planets have been an eye-catching duo in the western sky after sunset. Week by week they've been gradually sliding closer together — and their celestial performance is about to culminate.

Quadrantid Meteors Set to Perform on January 4th
December 29, 2011 | Celestially speaking, 2012 opens with a bang. The Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the best displays of "shooting stars" all year, peaks on the morning of January 4th. If you can get up early and find a dark, clear, wide-open sky, you might see 1 or 2 meteors per minute during the shower's brief but intense peak.

Watch Mini-Asteroid 2005 YU55 Buzz Earth
November 7, 2011 | A quarter-mile-wide asteroid will coast past Earth on the night of November 8–9, shining at 11th or 12th magnitude and providing a rare opportunity to watch its flyby through a backyard telescope — if you know exactly where and when to look. Here's how to find it!

Four Planets Dance Before Dawn
May 6, 2011 | Over the next two weeks, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter gather dramatically low in the eastern twilight before sunrise.

First Lights: Easy Targets for Your New Telescope
January 7, 2011 | Thousands of telescopes are given and received as gifts during the holidays. But once you've assembled your new treasure, then what? The editors of Sky & Telescope show you where to look first.

Sky & Telescope Releases All Back Issues on DVD
August 16, 2010 | Every step of astronomy since 1941, both professional and amateur, is chronicled in Sky & Telescope. Now the magazine has released all 818 monthly issues — 69,792 pages — from 1941 to 2009 as a boxed set of DVDs. Pages flip as naturally as on paper — and every word is indexed and searchable.

2009

Uh-Oh! A "Blue Moon" Ends the 00s
December 29, 2009 | On New Year's Eve, a full Moon will rise for the second time this month (the first time was on December 2nd). Many people call the second full Moon in a calendar month a "Blue Moon" — yet that definition is wrong!

Leonid Meteors To Perform Late Tonight
November 16, 2009 | The Leonid meteor shower peaks near new Moon in 2009, making this a fine year for any meteor lover. Observers in the Americas are ideally placed for the traditional peak, and a brief, unusually intense burst is forecast for Asia.

How to Find Comet Lulin This Week
February 23, 2009 | Comet Lulin is nearest and brightest this week, and it's in a dark, moonless sky. Use our exclusive sky chart to find it with binoculars or a telescope!

2008

New Date for Caesar's British Invasion
June 30, 2008 | In 55 BC, when Julius Caesar and his fleet approached the white cliffs of Dover on the British coast, he faced unexpectedly strong tides. Researchers from Texas State University have used tidal measurements and other astronomical clues to revise the exact date of the historic landing.

Sky & Telescope Appoints Robert P. Naeye Editor-in-Chief
April 29, 2008 | Sky & Telescope magazine, the iconic publisher of astronomy periodicals and books, announced today that it has appointed Robert P. Naeye to the position of Editor-in-Chief, succeeding Richard Tresch Fienberg, PhD, who will retire from the magazine this summer.

A "Prime-Time" Lunar Eclipse
Feb. 15, 2008 | The Moon will dive through Earth's shadow on the night of February 20th for the last time until December 2010.

2007

Perseid Meteors to Peak This Weekend
Aug. 8, 2007 | The Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, returns to the night sky this coming weekend — and the skywatching conditions will be "ideal."

"Blue Moon" to Rise on May 31st
May 29, 2007 | On Thursday evening, May 31st, a full Moon will rise for the second time this month. Many people call the second full Moon in a calendar month a "blue Moon" and use the expression "once in a blue Moon" to mean something that occurs only rarely. While the latter meaning can be traced back centuries, the former definition is much newer — and it's wrong!

Northern Spring Arrives on March 20th
Mar. 16, 2007 | At 8:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, March 20th, spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere — astronomically speaking. That's when the Sun, heading north in the sky, passes directly over Earth's equator.

March 3rd's Lunar Eclipse Favors East Coast, Europe
Feb. 26, 2007 | Lucky skywatchers will witness a total lunar eclipse on the evening of March 3, 2007. However, where you live will dictate whether you'll get to enjoy this grand celestial spectacle — or watch the full Moon rise after it's all over.

2006

The Winter Solstice: A Time for the Sun's Rebirth
Dec. 15, 2006 | On Thursday evening, December 21st, at 7:22 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Sun will reach its southernmost point in the sky for 2006 and begin its six-month return journey northward.

Leonid Meteor Outburst in the Offing?
Nov. 13, 2006 | Late Saturday night, November 18, 2006, the Leonid meteor shower could produce a spectacular sky show over New York, New England, and eastern Canada.

A Rare Transit of Mercury Occurs on Nov. 8, 2006
Oct. 31, 2006 | Usually you expect to see planets at night. But in broad daylight on Wednesday, November 8th, Mercury will cross the face of the Sun and be visible in silhouette through a telescope with a safe solar filter.

Perseid Meteors to Peak August 11 and 12, 2006
Aug. 7, 2006 | The Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, returns to the night sky this coming week. But moonlight will interfere somewhat with the view.

Don't Get Snookered by Internet Mars Malarkey
Aug. 7, 2006 | A bogus e-mail chain letter has been circulating around the Internet. It claims that on August 27th Mars will appear brighter than ever in history. The problem is that "August 27th" is actually August 27, 2003.

Sky Publishing Launches New Web Site
Aug. 4, 2006 | Sky Publishing, a New Track Media company and publisher of astronomy periodicals and books, announced today the launch of its new Web site, SkyandTelescope.com.

Big, Bright, Two-Spotted Jupiter Dominates the Evening Sky
May 1, 2006 | Look southeast after dark this month, and you'll see a bright white "star" looking right back at you. This is the planet Jupiter, which on May 3rd is positioned opposite the Sun in our sky and at its nearest to Earth for the year.

April Showers: Lyrid Meteors Peak on the 22nd
Apr. 18, 2006 | The annual Lyrid meteor shower should reach its peak activity late Friday night and early Saturday morning, April 21–22, with almost no interference from moonlight.

Moon to Sweep Through the Pleiades
Mar. 27, 2006 | On Saturday evening, April 1st, anyone in eastern or central North America with clear skies can watch the waxing Moon cover stars in the Pleiades cluster during and after dusk.

An Eclipse of the Sun for Europe, Africa, and Asia
Mar. 20, 2006 | On Wednesday, March 29th, a total eclipse of the Sun will sweep across parts of West and North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia. The eclipse will be partial across a much wider region.

Sky Publishing Completes Sale to New Track Media LLC
Feb. 13, 2006 | Sky Publishing announced today that it has completed the sale of its business to New Track Media LLC, making Sky & Telescope magazine the cornerstone of a broad portfolio of consumer enthusiast publications.

See Saturn at Its Best
Jan. 25, 2006 | Right now the ringed planet Saturn is as close and bright as it will get this year, shining like a yellow star in the eastern evening sky and beckoning telescope users worldwide.

2005

Ready for 2006? You'll Have to Wait a Second!
Dec. 20, 2005 | The final minute of 2005 at Greenwich, England, will last 61 seconds rather than the usual 60. An extra "leap second" will keep Earth's rotation in sync with the stars.

Telescope-Buying Tips for the Holiday Season
Dec. 2, 2005 | Telescopes are popular holiday gifts. But buyer beware: A telescope should not be bought on impulse. If you get one that can't be aimed or focused, it'll collect more dust than starlight.

Kelly Beatty Honored for Service to Planetary Science
Sept. 7, 2005 | J. Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine and executive editor of Sky & Telescope magazine, has received a prestigious award from the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences.

Don't Get Snookered by Mars Malarkey
Aug. 23, 2005 | An Internet chain letter has people thinking that on August 27th the planet Mars will appear brighter than ever in history and "as large as the full Moon to the naked eye." Hogwash!

Astronomers Date Ansel Adams's Autumn Moon
Aug. 22, 2005 | In the October issue of Sky & Telescope, astronomical sleuths in Texas explain how they figured out exactly when the famed photographer captured a lovely moonrise in Yosemite National Park.

Perseid Meteors to Peak August 11-13, 2005
Aug. 4, 2005 | The most familiar annual meteor shower — which happens during vacation season for many people — should reach its 2005 peak on Thursday and Friday nights, August 11–12 and 12–13, in a moonless sky.

How to See NASA's Comet Crash in the Sky
June 28, 2005 | On Sunday night, July 3rd, NASA's Deep Impact probe will slam into the icy nucleus of Comet Tempel 1. It's likely nothing of this event will be visible to the unaided eye, but telescope and binocular users may see the comet brighten after the impact.

Three Planets Bunch Up in Twilight
June 17, 2005 | Gaze low to the west into the deepening twilight for the next couple of weeks, and you can watch three planets go through their celestial gyrations as they shift position day by day.

Moon to Take a Bite Out of the Sun on April 8th
Apr. 1, 2005 | Solar eclipses are grand cosmic events that no nature-watcher wants to miss — and an opportunity to see one will occur for most of the southern United States on Friday afternoon, April 8th.

Moon to Uncover a Bright Star
Feb. 25, 2005 | On Thursday morning, March 3rd, early risers across much of North America have a chance to see the last-quarter Moon pass in front of the bright orange-red star Antares.

Get a "Ringside Seat" for Saturn Spectacular
Jan. 6, 2005 | Observing Saturn in a telescope is fascinating any time, but the view will take on extra significance on January 14th, when the Huygens probe will plunge into the dense atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

A Winter Comet Glows in the Evening Sky
Jan. 3, 2005 | Comet Machholz is glowing high up among the sparkling winter stars as seen from North America and Europe. It's an easy catch in binoculars even from light-polluted cities.

2004

The Winter Solstice and the Sun's Rebirth
Dec. 16, 2004 | On Tuesday morning, December 21st, the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky for 2004, marking the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Dawn Displays to Light November Skies
Nov. 1, 2004 | Venus, Jupiter, and the crescent Moon put on a grand show at dawn in early November, followed closely by the annual Leonid meteor shower on the morning of the 17th.

Blue Moon to Rise on July 31st
July 27, 2004 | On Saturday evening a full Moon will rise for the second time this month. Many people call the second full Moon in a calendar month a "blue Moon" — but strictly speaking, they're wrong!

Astronomers Unravel Marathon Mystery
July 19, 2004 | Runners at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, will retrace one of the most famous runs in history. But when did the Battle of Marathon and the ensuing race really occur?

Solstice Signals a New Season
June 16, 2004 | On Sunday evening, June 20th, the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky for the year, marking the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Five Planets Put On a Twilight Sky Show
Mar. 18, 2004 | For the next couple weeks, the Moon and all five naked-eye planets shine at once during dusk, forming striking combinations in the early-evening sky.

Venus and the Crescent Moon Rendezvous
Feb. 17, 2004 | On Monday evening, February 23rd, stargazers will be treated to a very pretty sight as brilliant Venus, the "Evening Star," blazes just to the right of the thin crescent Moon.

2003

First Lights: Saturn & Other Sky Sights for the New Year
Dec. 29, 2003 | Every holiday season thousands of new telescopes are received as gifts. But what to look at? This winter two giant planets beckon: Saturn (which is closest and brightest on New Year's Eve) and Jupiter. Here's how to find them, and what you can expect to see.

A New Season and a Special Astronomical Treat
Dec. 16, 2003 | Winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun reaches the solstice on Sunday night/Monday morning December 21/22. And three days later, at dusk on Christmas Day, brilliant Venus will shine just to the right of a lovely crescent Moon.

Eclipse Flight over Antarctica
Nov. 20, 2003 | On Sunday, November 23rd, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from a narrow track across Antarctica. We'll intercept totality at 38,000 feet aboard a chartered jetliner. (Updated Nov. 24th with a first report and images!)

The November 8th Total Eclipse of the Moon
Oct. 24, 2003 | On Saturday night, November 8–9, the full Moon will pass through Earth's shadow for skywatchers throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and in parts of Asia.

May Brings an Astronomical Bonanza
April 29, 2003 | Astronomically speaking, May is bustin' out all over! Highlights include a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse, the passage of the planet Mercury in front of the Sun, and the 30th annual celebration of Astronomy Day.

Spring Begins on March 20th...But Why?
March 12, 2003 | The long, cold, snow-laden winter of 2002-03 officially comes to an end at exactly 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, March 20th — the moment of the March equinox.

2002

First Lights: What to See with Your New Telescope
Dec. 26, 2002 | Every holiday season thousands of new telescopes are received as gifts. But what to look at? This winter the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn beckon. Here's how to find them, and what you can expect to see.

December Solstice Signals the Start of a New Season
Dec. 16, 2002 | On December 21st, at 8:14 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the Sun will reach its southernmost point in the sky for the year. This moment marks the December solstice, the official beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Geminid Meteors Sweeping Toward Earth
Dec. 10, 2002 | Expect to see a meteor every few minutes on the night and early morning of December 13–14. Here's some advice on how, when, and where to look.

Sky & Telescope Launches German Edition
Nov. 21, 2002 | Astronomie Heute (Astronomy Today), the German edition of the world's most respected astronomy magazine, will be published bimonthly starting in February 2003.

Telescope-Buying Tips for the Gift-Giving Season
Nov. 18, 2002 | Telescopes are popular holiday gifts. But buyer beware: a telescope should not be bought on impulse. If you get one that can't be aimed or focused, it'll collect more dust than starlight.

Leonid Meteor Spectacle Coming Back Soon
Nov. 1, 2002 | After putting on spectacular performances for the last four years, the Leonid meteor shower is due to sweep across Earth again during the early-morning hours of Tuesday, November 19th.

Dark-Sky Advocates to Push for Nationwide Lighting Reforms
Oct. 23, 2002 | Astronomers, policymakers, and lighting specialists will gather in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 25–26 for the fall 2002 meeting of the International Dark-Sky Association. They'll take aim at the ubiquitous pall of urban skyglow known as "light pollution," its effects on our health and our society, and what can be done to halt and reverse its spread.

Harvest Moon Arrives on September 21st
Sept. 16, 2002 | The Harvest Moon is the full Moon closest to the autumn equinox, which occurs this year on September 22-23. But what makes this full Moon so special?

Fall Begins on September 22nd...or Is It the 23rd?
Sept. 13, 2002 | The beginning of fall this year will pose a bit of a quandary for weather announcers and others in the news media. Autumn starts on September 22nd or 23rd, depending on what time zone you’re in.

Perseid Meteors to Peak on August 12th
Aug. 8, 2002 | The annual Perseid meteor shower — one of the year's best — peaks in a moonless sky on Monday, August 12th, with European and North American observers positioned for the best show.

Dance of the Planets Reaches Crescendo
May 2, 2002 | During the first half of May all five naked-eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn — are well placed for viewing in the western twilight sky about an hour after sunset.

Moon to Cover Saturn on February 20th
Feb. 19, 2002 | The Moon sweeps across the ringed planet Saturn on Wednesday, February 20th, for skygazers in North America. The event occurs in early-evening darkness in the Northeast.

Featured Product from Shop@Sky!

If you've ever looked up in wonder at the night sky but don't know where to begin: begin here. With expert guidance you'll learn your way around the constellations, dig deeper with binoculars or a telescope, and savor the universe just over your head every night!